I'm not talking about just funky music, we know he can do that. I am talking about that raw essence of funk that he especially had during the early 80s, and could be seen through till the late 80s.

Prince isn't young anymore and I'd imagine that funk probably comes from a place in your heart filled with youthful dreams and attitude. If Prince has lost that funk forever, is it because that's just not in his psyche anymore?

Of course, there have been a number of influences in play since the late 80s, and there are many now, but they probably all indicate that he would naturally lose something as a truly captivating artist but gain something more meaningful as a person. I think this is showing in his finally coming to terms with the industry game, and it's evident in his mature attitude towards the One Nite Alone shows. I guess that's not really a bad thing, it's just what happens.

he ain't lost it, per se...it's just buried somewhere.

The funks just marinating..it was releases and spilled onto parts of EverLasting Now

.
[This message was edited Wed Feb 12 9:15:34 PST 2003 by rdhull]

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I agree, buried deep down somewhere.. but he still got it!!! He probably lost some of it when he became JW just kiddig.. He still got it!!!

rdhull said:

and Supercute...

CalhounSq said:

word..I listend to that last week

rdhull said:

Again, I'm not saying he's lost his ability to give us funky music, we all know it's in his soul. But what I am saying, is that he probably lost THAT funk quite some time ago. I'm talking about the funk you could hear on almost everything he touched back then. Prince is in a very different place now.

Did you see the Ozzy dance during The Work? The similarity to his Hot Thing performance on the Sign O The Times gig was remarkable. The Everlasting Now is not Housequake. Shut up, already, damn!

rdhull said:

she smiles... super cute

rdhull said:

And the Daisy Chains...

klaatu said:

YES... minus the rap section... but YES

Supercute is an interesting example of funky music but does it really reference that spirit and attitude of funk Prince was feeling back then? No, and it's not meant to.

Again, I'm talking about the spiritual progression of an artist to a place where music charts don't matter, industry acceptance is not his game plan, and most importantly, proving that he's got something people need to hear is not his attitude. That incessant funk came from a deep seated desire to be accepted as the funkiest in the musical world. It's an ego thing. His attitude has understandably changed and he doesn't feel the need to pander to anyone's expectations anymore. There has been a definite effect on the urgency and vitality of that funk.

Anji said:

Yeah, I think the same way you do. I'd say us Brits understand Prince better than the Yanks.

ConsciousContact said:

I think we're more understanding too, especially of people who are still holding onto a dream they once shared.

Anji said:

What do you mean when you say that?

D.M.S.R. ...now THAT's a funky jam!

BorisFishpaw said:

ConsciousContact said:

I don't really know. I mean, of course he will change, has changed. That's just natural, like you said.
But listen to the Euro Aftershows this year, he's ON FIRE! Definitely.

Maybe you could say that, in the studio, he just isn't as wild and angry as he used to be. Simply because he has grown up.

calldapplwondery83 said:

I was waiting till someone chimed in with the aftershow factor. I wholeheartedly agree.

Anji said:

Oh you are naughty.

Anji said:

What you have to say is totally on the money. I've had this conversation several times before. One thing is that Prince's contemporaries in the 80's were a lot more talented musically than today's are. Funk never was a musical style but very much had to do with spirituality. You never declared that you were funky you just WERE! Also, others (not you) told you that you were funky. Some have been fooled into believing that anyone that can PLAY funky IS funky but that is not nor ever will be the case. The one thing that I see lacking in Prince's music today is the passion that was there when he had great competition. Remember, this was a guy who was recording and performing the same time groups like Led Zeppelin, Genesis, The Stones, The Brothers Johnson, Larry Grahm, Bootsy's Rubber Band and so many others were still making great records.I think there is a line in one of his songs that goes something like "My only competition is ME". That is so true!
Thank you for your observation!

I'm stalking you Rico. And I ain't stopping till you send me that airbrushed coon skin cap you was sportin' in the food stamp line last month.

livewire said:

you saw me Dang it's your's

Now that he's a JW,,he can't discuss what he discussed back in the day. I respect his beliefs but I know that it has a bad affect on his music.

So, I know where you coming from.

RiccoTheArtist said:

good explanation...

Muziqmkr said:

I dare say Prince was also trying to out do himself with each new record back then. It's new directions in music now but it's certainly not competiton, pressure or even his own unrealistic expectations of himself anymore. I'm talking about his mad genius days, when he truly believed it. You could feel it in the music. That was his funk.

The only conclusion I can muster is that this is a truly different age for Prince and what he sees as being important nowadays is not the same as what was fuelling him during the 80s. He's grown up now and relaxed himself. That's a good thing from a personal development point of view. I'm happy for him but what does that mean for us? Is it really just about aftershows nowadays?

No, 4ever got the funk...its more of a matter of if he chooses 2 exercise them rights~

Depends on what you mean by "THAT" funk. If you're referring that early 80's sound, he probably had little desire to keep going to that well for inspiration. probably wouldn't have been around still if he did.

Personally, I think he still can get "THAT" funky, but I figure it has a "been there, done that" feel to it for him. The trick is expressing "THAT" funk in new and interesting ways.

Well I think we sometimes tend 2 4get Prince is in his 40 yr now... of course he's not gonna do half the things he did when he was in his 20's that's just natural... I love Prince just the way he is, he's more mature and u can hear it his music, I'll pick the 40 yr Prince over the 20 yr Prince anyday
[This message was edited Wed Feb 12 13:17:47 PST 2003 by DigitalLisa]